New Foreign Teacher in China

When you're on the other end of the earth and have actually never been to China, it's tough to understand how things work here. There are numerous fantastic and really valuable recruiters and schools that will treat you with the regard you should have, however there are a lot of prospective risks along the way. Here are some methods to make sure you avoid the typical oversights as a brand-new foreign instructor in China.

Time and time again, we hear stories of scammer and dodgy schools in China that lure in foreign teachers with outstanding sounding salaries, abundant benefits and even visas that never ever concern fruition. Potential expats frequently only recognize they have actually been duped later, often after paying exorbitant fees to the business that sounded so helpful however turned out to be nothing more than a washed-up dude on a computer system in his bathrobe.

Here are some typical oversights to prevent to ensure you hit the ground running as a brand-new foreign teacher in China.

Never Ever Pay to Work!

It might sound obvious, but never ever, ever pay an employer to find you a teaching task or offer company money for the satisfaction of working for them. While gap year trainees may indeed pay to tag turtles in Southeast Asia, there is definitely no reason to work for free in China. Some companies market "volunteer" mentor experiences where candidates pay up to 1,000 USD to work for six months in exchange for room and board. Other times, a recruiter may attempt to charge instructors a "job placement cost."

Would you pay to work for totally free in your own nation? Obviously not! If you find yourself thinking about any of the above choices, do not. You can discover a mentor job in China without paying. You are a valuable product here, so do not sell yourself short.

Do Your Research

The most convenient and most typical mistake new foreign instructors in China make is refraining from doing their homework. There's a great deal of information out there on the internet, and doing your research will assist you to prevent issues and risks on arrival. Considering that it's difficult to picture what life is like on the ground in China when you're sat making an application for tasks in the comfort of your house nation, many people devote senseless errors. Some sign year-long contracts for locations they can't even find on a map. Others appear with nothing but a foreign credit card, only to discover they are extremely hardly ever accepted here.

Certainly do some research study on where you want to reside in China and, if possible, think about checking out ahead of time to scope out some cities and schools. There are really many benefits to trying to find work while already in China.

Also be on your defend against dodgy schools and education centers. There are different red flags to watch out for when looking for work in China and methods to do due diligence on your prospective employer. This is not to say that China is full of scam artists and wicked school masters, but being prepared and well informed will guarantee you have the most gratifying experience and enjoy the best advantages.

Prepare for the Unforeseen

If you're arriving in China "fresh off the boat," ensure you have some money, you understand how to get where you're going and you have a backup strategy. IF something takes place, for instance, no one is at the airport to choose you up like they assured, a minimum of you can find your method to a hotel in the area. Research how to get yourself there from the airport and how to get yourself a sim card on arrival. Make sure you have adequate money for a ticket home if the outright worst pertains to worst.

Pay Attention to Your Contract

Constantly read what you're signing. Many new foreign instructors in China are so keen to land their very first task, they happily sign away a year of their life for a seriously underpaid and honestly exploitative function. The teaching week in China is around 20-25 hours, and any additional workplace hours should be laid out in your agreement. Likewise make sure that you're clear about just how much yearly leave you'll get which your basic labour rights will be satisfied. Read this for more of what to look for in your first teaching agreement in China.

Bring Products

Do not assume your school or language center will supply all the mentor materials to you. It sounds silly, because schools should have their own books? But much of what you'll be teaching is what the Chinese call "Oral English." This indicates that you'll likely have to come up with your own products to promote conversation with your students. It's for that reason best to bring a few English grammar books, some discussion topics, workouts and even some video games or children's books. If in doubt, take a look at these awesome online resources for ESL instructors in China.